Sunlight link to obesity and diabetes

Friday, October 24, 2014

Researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute and Harry Perkins
Institute of Medical Research have found that small regular doses
of sunlight suppress the development of obesity. The findings
have been published in the journal Diabetes.

Leading this project, Telethon Kids researcher Dr Shelley Gorman
said the team found that regular exposure of the skin to moderate
amounts of ultraviolet radiation suppressed the development of
obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

"We have shown that skin exposure to both high dose (around 10
minutes in midday summer sun) and low dose (around 2-3 minutes in
midday summer sun) ultraviolet radiation suppresses the development
of obesity and diabetes symptoms in mice fed a high fat diet," Dr
Gorman said.

"We didn't observe the same effect in mice fed a diet that
included vitamin D supplements so the mechanism seems to be due to
other factors induced by sunlight not vitamin D."

Dr Gorman said the findings are important as they suggest that
casual exposure of the skin to sunlight, together with plenty of
exercise and a healthy diet, may help prevent the development of
obesity in children.

She said further research was needed to better understand this
effect and how we can better harness the sun to improve our
metabolic health.

However, Dr Gorman said it was important that anyone concerned
about the health benefits of exposure to ultraviolet radiation from
sunlight consult current guidelines on safe levels of exposure.

Co-author Professor Prue Hart from Telethon Kids said that
whilst this research has significance around the globe it is
particularly important in Australia. "Given our climate and our
lifestyle our research is very relevant to the future health and
wellbeing of our kids and we look forward to expanding on it."